If you and your piano students loved our giveaway holiday piece “Three Ships”, then you’ll definitely want to download the Christmas music we’re sharing today! Be sure to listen to the full preview below…
I have a very old Christmas carol book that used to be my Grandma’s. It’s probably 80 years old. She played from it, I played from it, and now I teach from it. Just the sight of that book floods me with holiday memories of my childhood, my teenage years, my first-married years, my “young first-time-teacher” years… all of it.
So when I hauled out that same old book to let one of my piano students choose a piece from it last week it was with welcome nostalgia.
My Grandma has been gone now for over 3 years but that book still reminds me of her; her spidery cursive writing is right there on the cover. There’s a small chew mark in the corner from where my daughter “tasted” We Three Kings as a baby. Memories.
But my piano student couldn’t choose just one carol. I like them all! You pick for me!
So I chose Away in a Manger.
We had a little discussion about how confusing this tune can be, given that there are two well-known versions of it… We goofed about creating a “mash-up” of the two and she added “Oh! And it would be cool to add a whole bunch more carols in there… then I wouldn’t have to choose just one!”
In The Bright Sky… Christmas Music For Teens
Later that night, with her comment in mind, I composed In The Bright Sky… a lyrical pop piano solo where the two “Away in a Mangers” combine… and where other favorite carols make mini-appearances too!
You can listen to In The Bright Sky below before downloading your own copy. And, just for fun, see if you can name all 7 carols that make an appearance!
In The Bright Sky is available for free in the files of our Teen Piano Music Facebook group. You can access this sheet music (and lots of other free pieces and resources including the uber-popular piece “Wolf”) by joining the group. We hope In The Bright Sky stirs the same feelings of holiday happiness for you and your students as my Grandma’s old carol book does for me!
Check out this recording of “In The Bright Sky” by Michelle Miller
More Holiday Fun To Come…
We love giving things away at any time of the year, but during the holiday season it’s like Santa’s Workshop around the blog – so stay tuned as the fun printables keep coming!
And we want to know… what has been your favorite Teach Piano Today holiday resource, printable, blog post, or book that you’ve used either recently, or in the past?
Share in the comments below before Monday, December 7th at 12:00am PST and four lucky people will be chosen at random to select a PianoBookClub book of their choice!
